The prowess of the Egyptians had not yet been put to any severe proof.  They had themselves shown little of an aggressive spirit.  Attracted by the mineral wealth of the Sinaitic peninsula, they had indeed made settlements in that region, which had involved them in occasional wars with the natives, whom they spoke of as “Mena” or “Menti”; and they had had a contest of more importance with the tribes of the south, negro and Ethiopic, in which they had shown a decided superiority over those rude barbarians; but, as yet, they had attempted no important conquest, and had been subjected to no serious attack.  The countries upon their borders were but sparsely peopled, and from neither the Berber tribes of the northern African coast, nor from the Sinaitic nomads, nor even from the negroes of the south, with their allies—­the “miserable Cushites”—­was any dangerous invasion to be apprehended.  Egypt had been able to devote herself almost wholly to the cultivation of the arts of peace, and had not been subjected to the severe ordeal, which most nations pass through in their infancy, of a struggle for existence with warlike and powerful enemies.

The time was now come for a great change.  Movements had begun among the populations of Asia which threatened a general disturbance of the peace of the world.  Asshur had had to “go forth” out of the land of Shinar, and to make himself a habitation further to the northward, which must have pressed painfully upon other races.  In Elam an aggressive spirit had sprung up, and military expeditions had been conducted by Elamitic kings, which started from the shores of the Persian Gulf and terminated in Southern Syria and Palestine.  The migration of the tribes which moved with Terah and Abraham from Ur to Haran, and from Haran to Hebron, is but one of many indications of the restlessness of the period.  The Hittites were growing in power, and required an enlarged territory for their free expansion.  It was now probably that they descended from the hills of Cappadocia upon the region below Taurus and Amanus, where we find them dominant in later ages.  Such a movement on their part would displace a large population in Upper Syria, and force it to migrate southwards.  There are signs of a pressure upon the north-eastern frontier of Egypt on the part of Asiatics needing a home as early as the commencement of the twelfth dynasty; and it is probable that, while the dynasty lasted, the pressure was continually becoming greater.  Asiatics were from time to time received within the barrier of Amenemhat I., some to sojourn and some to dwell.  The eastern Delta was more or less Asiaticized; and a large portion of its inhabitants was inclined to welcome a further influx from Asia.